Mid Wales Orienteering Club

Hafod

Results

Thanks Eunice, Andrew and Tom and all who helped out today for a great event. Storm Callum departed and the sun came out to give a warm welcome to everyone. Congratulations to newcomers Julian, Sky & Betty for coming first on the orange course closely followed by Jay with Rowen in third. Alice came 1st on the Blue closely followed by Kate and Mark. Our light green competitors were multi tasking and enjoyed the parts of their course they completed before heading off for their next activity. Next MWOC event is at Ynyslas on 18th November hope you are ready for the challenge of the sand dunes. If you dont want to wait that long Eryri are running an event next weekend on Sunday 21st October at Llechweddgain near Trawsfynydd details on the Eryri Orienteering club website.

New to orienteering? It's a trail walk/run (and often an off-trail run!) with a difference - an orienteering race doesn't follow a set route. Instead you have to visit a series of checkpoints and register each one with an electronic timing chip. The checkpoints are marked by flags on the ground and may be along paths, earth banks, streams or anywhere in the woods or around the woods. The challenge is to race between each one, choosing your own route between the checkpoints, using a special orienteering map (which you get to keep too). Why not come and give it a go?

The Hafod estate is a fantastic historic landscape thathas been subject to a major restoration project over the last 25 years. The area is a great mix of runnable mature conifer and broadleaved woodland, with parkland and surprising spectacular features and unexpected views, the stunning Ystwyth river and interesting path networks.

Hafod is 12 miles south-east of Aberystwyth and recognised as one of the finest examples in Europe of a Picturesque landscape.

Its most celebrated owner, Thomas Johnes (1748-1816), built a new house in this remote location and laid out its grounds in a manner suited to displaying its natural beauties in sympathy with the 'Picturesque principles' fashionable at the time, with circuit walks allowing the visitor to enjoy a succession of views and experiences. Johnes also used the land for farming, forestry, and gardening, in each case trying out new ideas and experimental methods. Hafod became an essential destination for the early tourist in Wales. Today the Hafod estate occupies some 200 hectares of the Ystwyth valley and surrounding hills. Most is owned by Natural Resources Wales who, in partnership with the Hafod Trust, is managing a conservation and restoration project with public and private funding.

The Cwtch cafe in Pontrhydygroes is a great place to refuel after your course for a perfect day out.